A joint operation between two federal agencies has led to the arrest of a drug smuggler who concealed nearly one and a half kilograms of cocaine inside his own body upon arrival at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
The National Anti-Narcotics Authority (NANA) partnered with the General Directorate of Ports at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) in intercepting the African national, who was flagged by customs inspection teams after his behavior raised suspicion during routine arrival screening.
He was transferred to a hospital for medical examination, where imaging confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his digestive tract. Physicians extracted 100 capsules of cocaine with a combined weight of 1,418 grams.
The suspect and all seized materials were handed over to the relevant authorities after legal proceedings were initiated.
NANA highlighted the coordination between field teams and the agency’s analytical and targeting systems as a key factor in successfully detecting the attempt, describing the integration as central to the country’s capacity to counter sophisticated narcotics smuggling.
The ICP credited its customs officers’ behavioral analysis skills and field experience as instrumental in identifying the suspect, calling the interdiction a demonstration of the corps’ advanced operational capabilities.
